UC Berkeley Tanner Lecture: Christopher Clark on The Moment of Decision

Join Christopher Clark, Regius Professor of History at the University of Cambridge, for a Tanner Lecture series on The Moment of Decision. Clark will examine how decisions are understood in theory and practice, drawing on insights from fields such as Game Theory, Decision Theory, and Neuroscience, as well as historical case studies.

This three-day event will be held at the Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus and will follow evolving public health guidelines.

Please register for each event separately, under Tickets.

Lecture I – What is a decision?

This first lecture explores how scholars have approached decision-making, from rational choice frameworks and cognitive bias to the role of emotion and political context. It considers questions such as when a decision becomes political, how institutional and cultural structures shape decision-making, and how decisions related to war have been understood from Thucydides to Carl von Clausewitz.

Lecture II – The Decision in history

This second lecture turns to historical narratives and the role that pivotal decisions play in shaping our understanding of the past and present. Through examples from modern political history, the lecture examines the relationship between sovereignty and decision-making, the emergence of the modern statesman as a “decision-maker,” and the challenges facing leaders today, from different political systems to global issues such as climate change.

Seminar and Discussion with the Commentators

Commentary by Stephen Kotkin, Christian List, and Sophia Rosenfeld.

For updates about this lecture and upcoming lecture series events, please visit the Tanner Lectures website.

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Host or Publisher UC Berkeley Graduate Division